Hydraulic transmission mechanism.



c. 0. men] HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY23, 19101 I 1,156,816. Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

c. c. RICH. HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY23. I910.

1,156.,816. Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

0.0. Rio/ an snares ra rnn'yr orricn.

CHARLES C. RICH, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THEHYDRO-KINETIC TRANSMISSION COMPANY, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION OF MAINE.

HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

Application filed July 23, 1910. Serial No. 573,566.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LGnanuzs C. RICH, citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of \Vestchester and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HydraulicTransmission Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements inhydraulic transmission mechanism, such as is shown'in my companionapplication, Serial No. 573,567, filed on the 23rd day of July, 1910,and is designed particularly for use in automobiles, motor trucks, andother self-propelled v'ehicles, although it is to be understood that itis applicable for use generally wherever it is desired to transmitmotion from one shaft to another.

The invention has for its primary Object a mechanism of this characterwhich will be compact, in which the weight will be evenly distributed,which will be flexible in its ac tion. eflicient in operation andcapable of being easily controlled and in which the connections for thefluid driving medium will be reduced in length to a minimum, pipingbeing entirely eliminated.

The invention also has for its object in mechamsm of tlns type, animproved arrangement of valves whereby a single con the pump of thedevice and the speed controlling valvje which is connected to theplurality of hydraulic motors, whereby the necessity of a reversingvalve for each hydraulic motor is avoided, together with its incidentalcomplications and other disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is a hydraulic transmission mechanismembodying both a speed controlling valve and a reversing valve, eitherof which may be detached without disturbing the other or the remainingparts of the mechanism, thereby adding to the efficiency andaccessibility of the. parts should any detachment and replacement becomenecessary.

.\ further object of the invention is an improved mechanism of this typein which the reversing valve. which is interposed betors to change inthe latter the direction of flow of the liquid, is formed Withrelatively large and direct passages extending therethrough for thepurpose of passing the liquid from the pump to the motors in a directionto propel the vehicle for instance in a forward direction, therebyeliminating as far as possible friction when going ahead, the moretortuous passages in said valve that are used for the purpose ofchanging the direction of flow being only brought into play on thereverse, where high speed \is not an essential and hence where it is notso important to reduce frlction to am1n1mum.

A further object of the-invention is reversing valve in the form of apiston mount: ed within a cylinder and movable longitudinally therein inits operation, said valve or piston being formed with any desired numberof passages extending therethrough from end to end, whereby to allow fordisplacement and the relatively free movement of the piston, the saidpassages being so proportioned-that they will prevent a toospeedymanipulation or movement.

The invention also has for its object a hydraulic transmission mechanismembodying a cut-out or by-pass in both pump and motor, whereby theoperator may, at will, bybringing said by-pass into play. permit therotors to run free and the fluid to circulate around in the casings, thedirection of flow being continuous in a constant circumferential path,whereby all angles. or angular changes in the direction of flow and theconsequent friction 'are avoided. And the invention has for a furtherobject a cutout or by-pass as just above specified,.which is independentof all other controls, whereby the operator, say of an automobile, mayinstantly throw out the operative connection between the pump and motoror motors,

without shifting or changing the speed con trolling devices, and cansubsequently gradually throw in the connection between the pump andmotor to again start the machine without the necessity of touching oroperating the speed controlling devices;

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as thedescription proceeds, the inventioh consists in certain constructionsand arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafterfully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention,

' which is to be had to the following deand accompanying drawings, in

reference scriptlon Figure 1 is a plan view of the running gear of amotor vehicle, illustrated conventionally, and showing one form orembodiment of my invention and the disposition thereof; Fig. 2 (Sheet 2)is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the pump and thecasing of the speed controlling and reversing valves; Fig.2 is ahorizontal sectional view, the pump casing being omitted; Figs. 3, 4 and5 are enlarged horizontal sectional views, in the nature of diagrams,illustrating the speed controlling valve in three different positions,(see Sheet 1); Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the body portionor spool of the speed controlling valve mechanism; and, Figs. 8 and 9are horizontal sectional views through the piston of the reversing valvemechanism.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the numeral 1 designatesgenerally the framework or running gear of a motor vehicle, 2 thegasolene engine or other prime mover, 3 the ordinary differential caseon the rear axle, and 4: the transmission shaft, all of these partsbeing selected for the purpose of illustration only and being of anydesiredor conventional construction or design,

The fly wheel shaft of the prime mover 2 carries a spur pinion 5 whichmeshes with a relatively large gear-wheel 6 secured on the rotor shaft'7 of a pump P of the rotary type. Obviously, the gear wheels 5 and 6may be incaseol in anydesired way to protect them from dust and for thepurpose of carrying lubricant. So far as the rotor of the pump P and itsblades are concerned, theymay be of any construction or design, therotor 1n the present instance being shown (see Fig. 2) at 8, mountedeccentr1cally -within the pump casing 9 and carrying outwardly springpressed blades 10. For the sake of clearness, T have designated thelower port 11 of the pump casing 9 as the inlet port and the upper port12 asthe outlet port for the driving fluid, although it is to beunderstood this designation is merely an arbitrary one as the directionof flow of course depends upon the direction in which the shaft 7 isrotated.

The ports 11 and 12 communicate with the interior of a cylinder 13 inwhich a longitudinally movable piston 14 is mounted, these partsconstituting the lnain'elements of the reversing valve mechanism. Andthe interior of the cylinder 13 communicates with the interior of avalve casing 15 which, with its spool or cylindrical valve 16, mountedto turn therein about its major axis, constitute the main parts ofthespeed controlling valve mechanism.. As best/seen in Fig.

2, the piston 14; is formed near its ends with it will be understoodthat the pump P is passingthe fluid through the valves in a direction topropel the machine forwardly, as will be hereinafter more specificallyset forth.

In addition to the annular grooves 17, the piston 14 is formed withobliquely extending cross passages 18 which open at diametricallyopposite points in the periphery of the piston, and hence it will beunderstood thatwhen the piston is moved from the position illustrated inFig. 2 in a direction to effect the registry of the ends of the passages18 with the ports that lead through the cylinder 13, the fluid will bepassed to the valv casing 15 in the reverse direction, so as to propelthe vehicle rearwardly. Thus it will be seen that the more circuitouspassages are only used on the reverse, where high speed is not anessential and the elimination of friction not so important.

As best illustrated in Fig. 1, the speed controlling valve mechanism isintended to serve a plurality of hydraulic motors, two of these beingillustrated in the present instance, designated M and being of theduplex type, that is, two rotors mounted in the same casing 19, but inseparate compartments thereof, and both keyed or otherwise secureduponthe same section of the power transmission shaft 4. Tn thisembodiment of the invention, 20. designates the upper and lower fluidinlet and outlet passages leading to and from one rotor or motor, and 21designates the corresponding passages o the other motor.

Another object ofi my invention is to provide means whereby the fluidwhich is circulated by means of the pump P may be caused, at the will ofthe operator, to pass through and act upon one motor singly or bothmotors in conjunction, the first arrangement manifestly imposing uponthe rotor of the driven motor the full force of the circulating drivingfluid, and consequently securing high speed, while the secondarrangement mentioned distributes the kinetic energy of. the fluid andsecures more power, as the area of impact is increased, but at asacrifice of speed. It is the speed controlling valve mechanism whichaccomplishes this result, one embodiment thereof controlling valvemechanism is formed near its ends with transversely extending passages22, each of which is branched, as at 23, so as to permit the fluid topass, in a certain position of the spool, to and from both motors andthe pump. The spool is also formed with several longitudinally extendingperipheral groovesavhich, for the sake of perspicuity, will be describedin connection with the three positions of the valve illustrated in Figs.3, 4 and 5. For 'example, when the valve is in the neutral posi" tionillustrated in Fig. 3, one of these grooves, designated 24, willestablish communication between the two pump connecting ports 25, andsimilar grooves 26 and 27 will respectively establish communicationbetween the upper and lower passages 20 and 21 of the respective motors.Hence it will be understood that in this position the passages throughthe spool or body portion 16 are closed, and the fluid will be permittedto circulate freely out of one end of each motor casing and into theother end thereof and out of one end of the pump and into the other endthereof, there being no operative connection between the pump" andhydraulic motors, but each being permitted to I run free. In the secondposition illustrated in Fig. 4, the body portion-of the valve isrepresented as having been turned around a distance suflicient to bringthe branched pass sages 22 into registry with the ports 25, 21 and 20,-the fluid being thereby passed from the pump into both motorssimultaneously and passing back again from both 'motors simultaneouslyinto the 'pump. In this relative arrangement of the parts, low speedwill bethe result, as the force of the fluid is distributed upon therotors of both motors. In the third position illustrated in Fig. 5, thebody portion 16 has been turned still farther-around, one branch of eachpassage 22 being closed against the casing 15, while the other registerswith the port 20, the main end of each passage being still incommunication with a corresponding port 25 through the instrumentalityof a circumferentially -extending peripheral groove 28.

Thus it willbe seen that the fluid from the pump will be passed throughonly one of the motors and in order to provide for the free movement ofthe rotor of the other motor,

an additional longitudinally extending peripheral groove 29 is broughtinto registry with both of the ports 21 of the then inoperative, butfreely moving motor. In this relative arrangement of the parts, highspeedwill be the result, as the entire force of the fluid will act uponthe rotor of one motor.

having said mechanism in neutral position,

I have provided both'motor and pump, with a by-pass 30 of substantiallyarcuate form, each of said by-passes being controlled in any desiredway, as by a turn plug or valve 31. From this it will be evident thatwhen these by-passes are open, the fluid will merely circulate around inthe casing, no power being transmitted. Hence, in order to stop theautomobile for instance, it is only necessary to actuate the plugs 31,without disturbing the position of speed controlling valvemechanism;'and to start up again it is only necessary to gradually closethe by-pass 30. As the by-pass 30 is substantially of the curvature ofthe casing of which it forms a part, friction will be reduced to aminimum. 7

Any desired means may be employed for actuating the various parts, andit is thus to be understood that the mechanical elements illustrated inFig. l for the purpose of showing an operative structure are not of theessence of the invention, but are merely arbitrary in their character.The spool 16 of the speed controlling valve mechanism may be provided atone end with a handle 32 which isconnected by a link 33 to a bell crank34, said bell crank being in turn connected to a hand lever 35. Thepiston 14' may be moved longitudinally by another hand lever 36. And theplugs or cocks 31 may be turned by a foot treadle 37 and the otherconnections shown. j

The piston 14 is formed with longitudinal bores or passages 38 extendingtherethrough from end to end and of any desired number, these passagesbeing for the purpose of permitting displacement so as to renderpractical and easy the movement of the piston. Obviously, these passagescan be propor tioned so as to prevent a too-speedy action. .From theforegoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, theoperation of my improved hydraulic transmission mechanism will beapparent, as

the purposes and functions and relative in Fi For reverse. the )iston 14is I ,7

valve is shifted to the position illustrated moved from the positionillustrated in Fig. 2 to a position in which its oblique passages 18will register with the ports passing through the cylinder 13, the speedin the reverse position being either high or low according to theposition in which the speed controlling valve mechanism happens to be atthe time. To throw out all connections (operation only being hereconsidered) between the pump and hydraulic motors, the plugs 31 areopened.

It is to be particularly noted that the bypass passages 30 of thepumpand motor, form part of the casing thereof, that they are therefore of aminimum length, and that.

motor which is nearest to the driven wheel is continuously in operationwhen the pump and motor mechanism are coupled, vibrations and torsionalstrains being thereby materially reduced.

lit is to be understood that various changes may be made in theconstruction, arrangement and relative proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: g

1. in hydraulic transmission mechanism, a pump, a motor, a speedcontrolling valve interposed between the pump and motor and controllingthe communication between the two, and a reversing valve mechanism interposed between the pump and speed controlling valve, said reversing valvemechanism including a casing with pairs of opposite ports and alongitudinally slidable piston in said casing, said piston beingiformedwith grooves and cross passages, the grooves be ing spaced from eachother a distance equal to the distance between the pairs of oppositeports of the casing, and the cross passages terminating correspondinglyat a distance apart equal to the distance between said pairs of ports,for the purpose specified.

2. In hydraulic transmission mechanism, a pump, a pluralt-iy of motors,a speed controlling valve mechanism interposed between the pump and themotors, said valve mechanism including a spool formed with branchpassages extending therethrough and arranged to establish communicationbetween the pump and both motors simultaneously, the spool being alsoformed with peripheral grooves extending longitudinally and ari,iee,eie

controlling the communication between the two, and a reversing valvemechanism also interposed betweenthe pump and motor, said reversingvalve mechanism including a cylinder with opposite ports, and alongitudinally movable piston in said cylinder, the piston being formedin its periphery with annular grooves and with cross passages, tor thepurpose specified.

4. In hydraulic transmission mechanism. a pump, a motor, a speedcontrolling valve interposed between the pump and motor and controllingthe communication between the two, and a reversing valve mechanism alsointerposed between the pump and motor. said reversing valve mechanismincluding a cylinder with opposite ports, and a longitudinally movablepiston insaid cylinder, the piston being formed in its periphery withannular grooves and with cross passages, the piston beingfurther formedwith displacement passages extending there through from end to end.

5. Hydraulic transmission mechanism comprising a pump, a motor, acylindrical valve casing disposed between the pump and the motor havingspaced ports in its walls near each end. one port near each end being incommunication with the pump and the other port being in communicationwith the motor, a reversing valve slidahle longitudinally in said-casingand provided near each end with a duct disposed in radial plane or thevalve to directly connect the ports at the adjacent end of the valvecasing, said valvebeing further provided with a pair of diagonallyextending ducts disposed in offset relation to the first mentionedductsand each adapte to connect that port at one end of the casing whichis in communication with the pump with that port at the opposite end ofthe casing which is in communication with the motor. and means forshifting the valve whereby to bring either set of duct-s intocommunication with the ports.

6. in hydraulic transmission mechanism. a pump. a pair of motors mountedside by side upon the same shaft, each motor having an inlet and anoutlet, and a speed controlling valve mechanism interposed between thepump and motors and including extending therethrough and arranged in oneposition of the valve to establish communication between the outlet portof the pump and the inlet ports of both motors simultaneously andbetween the inlet port of the pump and the outlet ports of both motorssimultaneously, the periphery of the spool being formed withcircumferentially extendmg grooves extending one fromthe inlet openingof each duct whereby to permit the valve to be rotated in one directionto disestablish communication between the pump and one of the motorswithout disestablishing communication between the 15 pump and the otherof said motors.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

CHARLES C. RICH. [L. s1] Witnesses:

W. N. WooDsoN, FREDERICK S. STITT.

